GERALD LUMPKINS, President

Valley Bank, Senior Vice President

Born in Sterling, Illinois and raised in Rockford, IL, Jerry Lumpkins holds degrees in Political Science and History from Rockford University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix-San Diego. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Lumpkins began his decades-long career in commercial banking and affordable housing. Currently, he is Senior Vice President and Chicago Commercial Real Estate Division Head for Valley Bank. In 2021, he was recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business as one of Chicago’s most notable minority bankers and as one of the city’s most notable non-profit board leaders. Rockford remains near and dear to Jerry’s heart and that love is the power behind his passion for his time-consuming volunteer role as President of the PlatFORM Group.

“RHDC exists to shine a light on the need for healthy affordable housing solutions for ALL Rockfordians, especially low-wage working class people who serve as the foundation of our economy. We are determined to address this issue with advocacy as well as bricks and mortar where they are needed most.”

PHYLLIS GENESTRA, Treasurer

CDW, Financial Accounting Manager

Originally raised in Rockford, Phyllis spent nearly 20 years living and working in cities such as Chicago, Milwaukee, San Jose, New York and Washington DC. She earned her degree in Accounting at Marquette University and set off to places both near and far to continue to learn and grow.  Phyllis chose to rejoin the community in 1996 to raise her family in the city that provided her with the opportunities to succeed in the hopes of giving back some of the gifts she had been fortunate enough to receive.

Phyllis’ roots in the community are deep since she’s a third generation Rockford resident and has watched her father (and his siblings) and her grandfather as well as her sisters and their extended families work hard to improve Rockford.  If you ask Phyllis, she will tell you that they were raised to serve all four quadrants of the Rockford community and they continue to work hard in that endeavor by showing up both literally and figuratively and sharing their time and talent where they can.

Phyllis’ travels over her career have afforded her a front row seat watching cities that faced many of the challenges that Rockford currently is addressing.  She has seen first-hand how cities like Milwaukee, Omaha, New York City, Philadelphia – to name a few – can revitalize, gentrify and truly change neglected and impoverished neighborhoods as a result of proven (and coordinated) economic and mixed income housing efforts.  She is dedicated to helping bring those same proven results to the Rockford region.

Phyllis spent the majority of her career in New York City working in Advertising for two of the largest global marketing companies – WPP (Ogilvy) and Interpublic Group (R/GA and FCB). She has held CFO, Controller and Treasury roles where she honed her financial skills with increasing responsibility.  She currently works for CDW a Fortune 500 multi-brand provider of information technology solutions to business, government, education and healthcare customers.

Phyllis is honored to serve as a Board member of the PlatFORM Group (Aug/2005-current).  She was also named Commissioner of the Rockford Housing Authority and served 12 years from Aug/2005-Oct/2017.  She held the role of Board Chair from Sep/2011-Aug/2013 and Vice Chair from Sep/2013-Oct/2017.  She also sat on the Board of Bridge Rockford until Oct/2017.

“I believe citizenship is not just a God-given right. It’s also an obligation to be an active part of one’s community. As such, I am committed to doing everything I can to help those who both need help and are willing to help themselves.”

RON CLEWER, Vice President

Gorman & Company, LLC, Illinois Market President

Ron Clewer has more than 25 years of leadership and multi-use real estate development and asset management experience. He began his service on the PlatFORM Group board in 2019 and currently serves as Vice-President.

Ron also serves as Illinois/Indiana Market President for Gorman & Company. Prior to joining Gorman & Company, he served as Chief Operating Officer of the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities, a role in which he was responsible for operations of the National Association Operations Center in Milwaukee, WI and the Public Policy office in Washington DC. In his previous roles as Chief Executive Officer of Rockford Housing Authority & Bridge Rockford Alliance, he led the provision of affordable housing, advancing workforce initiatives, and innovative supportive services to more than 7,000 families annually.

Ron has been instrumental in developing creative community-building initiatives across the Midwest. He brings vision and a “can do” attitude to his work while merging best practices from both private and public sectors. His passion lies in supporting quality in environments that cultivate and advance equity for all people.

Ron has received many awards for his leadership approach, pioneering community and neighborhood visions, affordable housing planning and operations and legislative advocacy, including the National Association for Housing and Redevelopment Officials’s Mary K. Nenno Advocacy Award.

“I have devoted a great deal of my time to answering the call of Reverend Martin Luther King who encouraged us to ‘make a career of humanity and commit ourselves to the struggle for equal rights.’ He said that was the way to make the world a finer place to live in. I think that all starts at home. Right here in Rockford.”

MARTESHA BROWN, Board Member

Midland States Bank, Director of Community Economic Development

Martesha Brown is a Rockford native and MBA Graduate of Rockford University, with a passion for economic development, strategic planning, marketing, and community engagement. She is currently the Director of Community Economic Development for Midland States Bank, with previous leadership roles in economic development, public relations, marketing, and operations for the RACVB, Rockford Park District, Alpine Bank, and Midland States Bank.

Her passion for the community and accomplishments have been noted by a panoply of organizations from the Rockford Register Star to Soul Network News to the State of Illinois and many others.

She has volunteered on various Boards and committees including Goodwill of Northern Illinois, Think Big, Transform Rockford, Habitat for Humanity, Community Foundation of Northern IL, the Chairman’s bridge committee, Governor Pritzker’s Capital Development Board, State of Illinois Association of Park Districts, Rebounding Rockford’s Covid Recovery committee, RAVE, Leadership Rockford, Coalition of Latino Leaders, and the NAACP.

In April of 2021, Martesha made history by being the first Black woman elected to the Rockford Park District Board of Commissioners in its 112-year history. In April of 2023, she became President. Her passions are focused on collaborative partnership building and revitalizing communities through work in education, workforce development, financial empowerment, affordable housing, small business development and health & wellness.

She was born and raised in Rockford and proud of it!

“My approach in life is to help – whenever and however I can. Too many citizens in our community lack affordable housing. So, here I am.”